Amanda Sledge-Pearson ITI’26 Pivots to SC&I to Pursue Her Passion for Information Technology and Informatics
Sometimes the right path through college isn’t always obvious at the start. Amanda Sledge-Pearson ITI’26, who knew at Admitted Students Day that Rutgers would be the school for her, said she arrived as a Chemistry major, planning a future in pharmaceuticals. However, one semester in, she knew that path wasn’t right for her. Instead of pushing through, she paused and reassessed.
During her freshman year, she dove into researching majors across the School of Arts and Sciences, exploring programs and career outcomes. That search led her to the School of Communication and Information.
“I have always been interested in the tech industry and learning more about its future,” she said. Discovering the Information Technology and Informatics major felt like clarity. As she explored SC&I further — especially by reading alumni success stories and learning about hands-on opportunities — her decision solidified. SC&I wasn’t just another option. It was the right fit.
Why IT and Informatics and DCIM?
IT and Informatics stood out to Sledge-Pearson because of the many opportunities and career fields that she could pursue with the degree.
“I have always wanted to somehow find a way to combine both my interests in the fashion, beauty, and creative industry with my technical skills and background,” she said. Through research, she discovered roles like IT project management, product development, and data analytics—careers that blend innovation with creativity. That mix made Information Technology and Informatics an easy choice.
The following year, at a sophomore major and minor fair, Sledge-Pearson came across the Digital Communication, Information, and Media (DCIM) minor and immediately saw it as the perfect complement to her major. “After speaking with SC&I faculty at the fair about the minor I immediately became interested in its media-focused courses that would allow me to be creative and become an outlet for me outside of my technical IT and Informatics course work,” she said.
Together, IT and Informatics and DCIM enable her to operate in both analytical and creative worlds—exactly where she wants to be.
Classes and Professors Who Made an Impact
Director of Undergraduate Studies in Information Technology and Informatics and Associate Teaching Professor Warren Allen, who taught Sledge-Pearson her first course in the major, Intro to IT and Informatics, played a major role in shaping her academic path. “Through his course I was able to learn and understand the vast world of IT and its possible future,” she said. His class deepened her curiosity and helped her feel confident she had chosen the right major.
Another standout class was Gender, Race and Class in the Media taught by SC&I Lecturer Deborah Howlett. The DCIM course pushed her to think about representation and power in media. “This class challenged me to critically examine how media shapes our understanding of identity and society,” she explained. The analytical skills she developed there now anchor her approach to technology and creative industries alike.
Career Goals in Motion
Sledge-Pearson wants to work in creative spaces while driving technical innovation. “As a college senior my career goals and aspirations are always changing and evolving,” she said, crediting conversations with professionals and alumni for expanding her perspective.
After graduating in May 2026, she plans to begin her career in the tech industry, exploring roles in data analytics, project or product management, supply chain, or business operations. “I am open to trying new things to not only hone my skills but to also get a feel for what I do and don't like.”
She’s already building experience as a Network Development & Industry Relations Spring Intern at BMW of North America. After a few years in the workforce, she plans to pursue an MBA—and eventually transition into the fashion and beauty world, aiming to pursue a future as a Project or Product Manager at a beauty or luxury brand.
Networking has been one of her most powerful growth tools. A major highlight for Sledge-Pearson was attending the SC&I student and alumni mixer on November 20, 2025.
Opportunities That Shaped Her
Networking has been one of her most powerful growth tools. A major highlight for Sledge-Pearson was attending the SC&I student and alumni mixer on November 20, 2025.
“This event was one of the most helpful and inspirational events I’ve been to since being a part of SC&I,” she says. "As graduation approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Hearing alumni talk honestly about rejection, setbacks, and persistence made a huge difference. Their stories made success feel real—and achievable."
Advice She Lives By
One quote guides Sledge-Pearson's decisions: “Create the life you can't wait to wake up to.”
She uses it as a daily reminder to be intentional. “To me, this means being intentional about every choice; from the classes I take to the organizations I join and the opportunities I pursue,” she said. Instead of following a prescribed path, she aligns her actions with passions that genuinely excite her.
Her courage to pivot paths to pursue the passions that felt right to her has shaped not only her college journey, but it's paved the way toward a promising career that future SC&I IT and Informatics students might benefit by following.
Learn more about the Rutgers School of Communication and Information on the website.
Images provided by Amanda Sledge-Pearson.
